Yesterday the journey restarted from Sydney riding southwest on route 223 into a headwind with gusts that reached 50k per hour. Despite the wind, I was able to make good time ending the day just a little past Iona.
The tree lined road was awash in fall colors with the trees occassionally giving way to railway tracks, fields, cottages, or St. Andrews Channel.
The highlight of the day was arriving at Grand Narrows and Iona, two small communities on either side of Barra Stait.
It was an idyllic setting and the warm temps and sunlit skies only added to its charm and allure.
It was part way up the next hill into the heart of Iona that I met Margie. She had passed me earlier in the day driving down from her home near Sydney with her friend Evelyn, to visit her sister Agnes. Margie invited me in to her sister’s home and they gave me nice cool fresh water to drink and freshly picked apples to eat. What a wonderful and unexpected treat. The three ladies were fantastic as we shared great conversation and a few laughs. To top it off they refilled my water bottles and gave me another apple for the road. It’s chance meetings like these that, for me, are such an integral part of the travel experience.
beautifully written! I felt like I was riding, too. :) looking forward to reading more.